The Disadvantages of Dehydrated Food

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NATALIE STEIN Last Updated: Dec 19, 2015

Natalie Stein

Natalie Stein specializes in weight loss and sports nutrition. She is based in Los Angeles and is an assistant professor with the Program for Public Health at Michigan State University. Stein holds a master of science degree in nutrition and a master of public health degree from Michigan State University.

A bunch of apples on a tray.Photo Credit iuliia_n/iStock/Getty Images

Dehydrated foods can be convenient staples or emergency supplies to keep in your home. You can store many kinds of dried food, such as beans, fruits and meats, at room temperature without worrying about them spoiling or losing quality. However, dehydrated foods have different properties than fresh ones, and they can be less healthy or more cumbersome to use.

It Can Be High-Calorie

Because dehydration is a process that removes water, dehydrated foods are higher in calories per ounce than their fresh counterparts. The lighter weight of dried fruit, for example, can make it easier to carry on hikes than fresh fruit, but eating too much dried fruit can lead to weight gain because of its higher calorie content than fresh fruit. A cup of fresh apple slices weighs 4 ounces and contains 57 calories, while a cup of dehydrated apples weighs 1 ounce and contains 208 calories.

It Can Be High-Sodium

Salt is another common preservative in dehydrated foods, and a high-sodium diet can lead to hypertension and coronary heart disease. While most kinds of meat are naturally low in sodium, dried meats, such as dried salami and cured beef, are typically high-sodium. The daily recommended sodium intake for healthy adults is a maximum of 2,300 milligrams; an ounce of cured, dried beef contains more than 780 milligrams of sodium. Read the list of ingredients to avoid dehydrated foods that contain salt.

Considerations

Dehydrated food can be convenient because you can stock up on it ahead of time, but it can take longer to prepare than fresh or canned foods. You need to reconstitute dried milk powder in water before you can drink it, and you may need to boil dried beans for hours or soak them overnight before you can eat them. If you are drying meat, be sure to use protocols that the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends to lower your risk of foodborne illness.

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